On July 18, 2026, an economic forum was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Iraqi Kurdistan. The event aimed to discuss expanding trade and economic interaction, strengthening direct business ties, and implementing joint investment and industrial projects.
The forum gathered heads of trade and industry chambers from Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, Halabja, and Kirkuk, representing the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Iraqi Kurdistan. Representatives from industry associations and over 400 businessmen from Uzbekistan and Iraq also participated. Opening speeches were delivered by Davron Vakhabov, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan; Gailan Said Aziz, Chairman of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Iraqi Kurdistan; and Ayubkhon Yunusov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Kuwait.
Participants noted that trade and economic ties between Uzbekistan and Iraq have developed in recent years, but the existing potential for bilateral cooperation has not been fully utilized. The main focus of the forum was on increasing direct business, growing trade turnover, attracting investments, and developing industrial partnerships. The presence of representatives from Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, Halabja, and Kirkuk, named as key economic centers of Iraqi Kurdistan, highlighted significant opportunities to strengthen both interstate and interregional ties.
Perspectives on expanding economic relations, enhancing investment cooperation, launching joint production projects, and establishing direct business-to-business (B2B) contacts were discussed. The B2B format allows enterprises to exchange information about available opportunities and conduct direct negotiations on specific areas of cooperation.
One of the most important outcomes of the forum was the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Iraqi Kurdistan. Memoranda of understanding were signed between regional chambers of Uzbekistan and Iraqi Kurdistan to promote regional economic interaction:
According to the organizers, the signed documents create a foundation for forming long-term business contacts, uniting the economic potential of the regions, and facilitating joint projects.
It is expected that the agreements reached will help transform general intentions into concrete investment and industrial initiatives. Priority areas identified include expanding trade, implementing investment projects, creating joint production facilities, and building long-term partnerships between businesses from both sides. The forum emphasized the growing importance of direct regional contacts as a tool for international economic cooperation. Partnerships between the regions of Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Sirdarya and the leading economic centers of Iraqi Kurdistan open up additional opportunities for mutually beneficial projects.
The forum in Tashkent demonstrated the growing role of business diplomacy in developing economic relations between Uzbekistan and Iraqi Kurdistan. The main result was the formation of a practical basis for further interaction, covering both direct dialogue between entrepreneurs and the implementation of joint industrial and investment projects. These agreements should contribute to increasing trade, launching new joint initiatives, and developing long-term partnerships between the business communities of Uzbekistan and Iraqi Kurdistan.
In Tashkent, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan held the 15th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Cooperation and the Business Council, during which a new agreement covering investment, industrial cooperation, and mineral resource development was signed.
Representatives of state bodies and leading business circles from both countries took part in the meeting. The main goal of the discussions was to expand trade and economic interaction, as well as strengthen investment and industrial partnership.
Participants noted a significant growth in bilateral trade, which reached almost 40% between January and May 2026. The parties confirmed their common goal of increasing annual trade turnover to 1 billion US dollars.
During the council, the progress of joint projects in areas such as geological exploration, precious metal mining, textile industry, tourism, and urban development was reviewed. Additionally, initiatives in the pharmaceutical, electrical engineering, and food sectors, as well as the production of building materials, were discussed.
Special attention was paid to strengthening interregional cooperation and preparing for the fourth Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan Interregional Forum, scheduled for August. The parties also discussed expanding the portfolio of projects managed by the joint investment company. At the end of the meeting, the protocol of the 15th session of the Intergovernmental Commission, as well as a package of bilateral agreements concerning investment, financing, industrial cooperation, geological exploration, and mineral exploitation, were signed.
The third Forum of the Regions of Uzbekistan and Belarus took place in Minsk on July 8, 2026. The main theme of the event was 'Regional Cooperation as the Engine of Economic Partnership.'
Deputy Prime Ministers of both countries, Jamshid Khodjaev and Yuri Shuleiko, along with representatives of governments, regional administrations, relevant ministries, agencies, and business circles, took part in the plenary session.
Forum participants noted that Belarus continues to be one of Uzbekistan's most important strategic partners, and bilateral cooperation is becoming increasingly practical.
Main attention was paid to strengthening direct ties between the regions, expanding industrial cooperation, and implementing joint production projects. During discussions, it was emphasized that the economies of the two states complement each other, creating prerequisites for production localization, the formation of value chains, and the promotion of goods to third-country markets.
Following the conclusion of the forum, a ceremony was held to sign interregional documents, as well as agreements in the field of investment and trade. The business program of the event included thematic sessions dedicated to industry, agriculture, the woodworking sector, furniture production, and socio-humanitarian cooperation.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, Bakhtiyor Saidov, held talks in Tashkent on July 6, 2026, with Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan.
The parties discussed the further development of comprehensive partnership between the two states, as well as the implementation of agreements reached at the highest level in Samarkand last year. During the meeting, the ministers reviewed the schedule of upcoming bilateral events, including high and top-level visits.
They noted with satisfaction the activation of political dialogue and mutual exchange of views, emphasizing the importance of further strengthening coordination between the foreign ministries of both countries. Special attention was paid to expanding cooperation in the fields of trade, economy, investment, transport, logistics, tourism, agriculture, education, culture, and humanitarian aid.
The parties expressed confidence that the launch of direct flights on the Amman-Tashkent route, as well as the activities of the joint Business Council, will serve as an additional stimulus for developing economic interaction.
The ministers also exchanged views on current international and regional issues. They confirmed their readiness to strengthen cooperation within the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Non-Aligned Movement, and other multilateral platforms.
At the conclusion of the negotiations, the parties reaffirmed their mutual interest in the consistent development of Uzbek-Jordanian partnership and filling it with new practical content.
